CN111192414A

CN111192414A - Image forming apparatus with a toner supply device

Info

Publication number: CN111192414A
Application number: CN202010071103.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 仓桥太朗
Original assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc
Current assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc
Priority date: 2019-01-28
Filing date: 2020-01-21
Publication date: 2020-05-22
Also published as: JP2020120354A; US10901673B2; JP7196638B2; US20200241821A1; EP3686679B1; EP3686679A1

Abstract

The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section for forming an image on a recording sheet; a storage device for storing a printed matter obtained by forming an image on recording paper by an image forming section; a cutter for cutting the printed matter stored in the storage device; a control unit for controlling the operation of the shredding device to shred the printed material when it is determined that a predetermined first standby time has elapsed since the printed material was stored in the storage device; a communication unit for performing wireless communication with a portable device carried by a user. When it is determined that a predetermined second standby time shorter than the first standby time has elapsed since the printed matter was stored in the storage device, the control unit transmits warning information indicating the content of the cut-out printed matter to the portable device. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent leakage of information from a printed product without losing user convenience.

Description

Image forming apparatus with a toner supply device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a technique for preventing information leakage from a printed product.

Background

The following printers are known: when the distance between the portable device carried by the user and the printer is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value before printing by the printer is completed, the content of the printed matter forgotten to be taken out is output to the portable device. The printer outputs the content of the printed product forgotten to be taken out to the portable device when the user leaves the convenience store before printing by the printer installed in the convenience store is completed. In addition, the printer stores the printed matter in a lockable output box, and cuts the printed matter in the output box with a shredder after a certain time has elapsed.

Disclosure of Invention

When the user leaves the printer during printing, there is a risk that the printed matter is seen or taken away by a third party other than the user. Since printed matter may contain information that is desired to be kept secret, such as personal information, the printed matter may be seen or taken away by a third person, which may cause information leakage, and this is a security problem.

Even in the printer, although it is possible to prevent information leakage by storing the printed matter in a lockable output box, when a certain time has elapsed, the printed matter in the output box is shredded by a shredder in order to shred the stored printed matter, and when the printed matter is shredded, the user has to print again, which causes the user to spend a cost and time for reprinting, and thus, the convenience is reduced. In addition, recording paper is wasted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to prevent leakage of information from a printed product without losing user convenience.

An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an image forming unit, a storage device, a shredder, a communication unit, and a control unit. The image forming section is configured to form an image on a recording sheet. The storage device stores a printed product obtained by the image forming unit forming an image on the recording paper. The shredding device is used for shredding the printed matter stored by the storage device. The communication unit is used for performing wireless communication with a portable device carried by a user. The control unit is configured to control the shredder to shred the printed product when it is determined that a predetermined first standby time has elapsed since the printed product was stored in the storage device. Further, when it is determined that a predetermined second standby time shorter than the first standby time has elapsed since the printed matter was stored in the storage device, the control unit is further configured to transmit predetermined warning information indicating the content of the cut-out printed matter to the mobile device via the communication unit.

According to the present invention, before the printed matter stored in the storage device is shredded, warning information indicating the shredded content of the printed matter is transmitted to the portable device carried by the user. This makes it possible to notice that the time required for shredding is urgent, and thus, the user can be encouraged to avoid shredding. Therefore, it is possible to prevent leakage of information without losing user's convenience. In addition, waste of recording paper can also be prevented.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of processing operations performed by the control unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on the display unit of the portable device according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure stored in the history information storage unit according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment is, for example, a multifunction peripheral having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function at the same time. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a document feeding unit 6, a document reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, a plurality of

storage devices

51A and 51B (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "storage devices 51"), a short-range communication unit 31, an operation unit 47, and a network interface unit 91. The image forming apparatus 1 is configured to be connectable to the charging device 110.

The charging device 110 (e.g., a coin-freed merchant) is a known device that accepts a deposit of money, charges a fee for printing, and refunds a balance. The charging device 110 includes a money input port, an input detection sensor for detecting input of money, a type identification sensor for identifying a type of input money, a balance display unit, a money return port, and the like, which are not shown. The charging device 110 is also used for identifying the amount of money to be charged, charging (in accordance with an instruction from the charging processing unit 102 described later) in which the amount of money is subtracted from the printing performed, identifying the remaining amount after charging, and the like, by a known technique. The charging device 110 operates under the control of the control unit 100 of the image forming apparatus 1.

A case where the image forming apparatus 1 performs a document reading operation will be described. The document reading section 5 optically reads an image of a document fed by the document feeding section 6 or a document placed on a sheet receiving glass, not shown, and generates image data. The image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in an image memory or the like, which is not shown.

A case where the image forming apparatus 1 performs an image forming operation will be described. The image forming section 12 is also configured to form a toner image on recording paper fed from the paper feed section 14 based on image data generated by a document reading operation or image data received from a computer as an external device 20 connected to a network.

The fixing unit 13 heats and pressurizes the recording paper on which the toner image is formed by the image forming unit 12, fixes the toner image on the recording paper by thermal fixing, and outputs and stores the recording paper subjected to the fixing process to the lockable storage device 51. The paper feeding unit 14 includes a paper feeding cassette.

The

storage devices

51A and 51B are devices that store printed matter obtained by forming an image on recording paper by the image forming unit 12 and store the printed matter. The

storage devices

51A and 51B include

shredder devices

52A and 52B (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "shredder devices 52") having a shredder function of shredding stored printed materials. The

storage devices

51A and 51B are boxes with keys (mechanisms that are unlocked by inputting a password, for example) that are loaded inside and can store printed products, for example. Further, the

storage devices

51A and 51B are each set with a tank number.

Each of the

storage devices

51A and 51B includes a door that is unlocked and locked by control of the control unit 100. The door is kept closed when locked, and can be opened when unlocked. Further, the door performs the following opening and closing actions: the door is in a closed state to shield the printed matter stored inside from the outside, and in an open state to open the printed matter stored inside to the outside. The door provided in the storage device 51A is a door 53A, and the door provided in the storage device 51B is a door 53B. Hereinafter, the door 53A provided in the storage device 51A and the door 53B provided in the storage device 51B are collectively referred to as "doors".

The Near Field Communication unit 31 is a Communication device that performs wireless Communication with a portable device 71 carried by a user by using a Near Field Communication method such as NFC (Near Field Communication), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or wireless LAN (local area network).

The portable device 71 includes an interface unit for near field communication such as NFC communication, an interface unit for wireless LAN communication, and a display unit 72, and is capable of acquiring location information of the portable device 71, and examples thereof include a smartphone.

The operation unit 47 has a hard key or the like for accepting an input of an instruction, and accepts an instruction such as an instruction to execute an image forming operation from an operator regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473, and the display unit 473 displays operation guidance for the operator and the like. The display portion 473 has a touch panel function, and the operator touches a button or a key displayed on the screen to input an instruction for operating the image forming apparatus 1.

The network interface unit 91 is used for transmitting and receiving various data to and from an external device 20 or a portable device 71 such as a terminal device or a server in a local area or on the internet. The network interface 91 is an example of a communication unit in the claims.

The control unit 10 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a dedicated hardware circuit. Examples of the processor include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application specific integrated Circuit), and an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100, an operation accepting unit 101, and a charging processing unit 102.

The control unit 10 functions as a control unit 100, an operation receiving unit 101, and a charging processing unit 102 by the operation of the processor in accordance with a control program stored in an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) not shown. However, the control section 100 and the like may be configured by hardware circuits, respectively, without depending on operations in accordance with the control program of the control unit 10. Hereinafter, the same applies to various embodiments unless otherwise mentioned.

The control unit 100 is also used to manage the overall operation control of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 is connected to the document feeding unit 6, the document reading unit 5, the image forming unit 12, the fixing unit 13, the paper feeding unit 14, the storage device 51, the short-range communication unit 31, the operation unit 47, and the network interface unit 91, and performs drive control of these units. For example, the control unit 100 acquires personal information (for example, an ID code and an IP address of the portable device 71) stored in the portable device 71 from the portable device 71 near the near field communication unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 1 by NFC communication or the like.

When it is determined that a predetermined first standby time T1 (for example, 20 minutes) has elapsed since the printed matter was stored in the storage device 51, the control unit 100 also controls the operation of the shredder device 52 so that the printed matter stored in the storage device 51 is shredded by the shredder device 52. The control unit 100 is also configured to store the first standby time T1 and extend the first standby time T1 in accordance with an instruction received from the user via the operation unit 47 by the operation receiving unit 101.

The operation accepting unit 101 accepts an operation input from the user via the operation unit 47. For example, the operation accepting unit 101 accepts an instruction from the user to the hard key provided in the operation unit 47 through the touch panel function provided in the display unit 473, and further accepts an instruction from the user to the operation screen displayed on the display unit 473.

For example, when the operation accepting portion 101 accepts a copy instruction from the user, the control portion 100 is also configured to cause the document reading portion 5 to read a document and cause the image forming portion 12 to form an image on a recording sheet based on image data obtained by reading by the document reading portion 5. A printed product in which an image is formed on a recording paper is discharged into the storage device 51. This prevents the printed matter from being seen or removed by a third person.

The control unit 100 is also configured to display the box number of the storage apparatus 51 to be the output destination of the printed product and the password for unlocking the storage apparatus 51 on the display unit 473 when the operation receiving unit 101 receives a copy instruction from the user. Thereby, the password is communicated to the user. Specifically, the control unit 100 is also configured to set a password at random, store the set password in association with the box number of the empty storage device 51, and then display the box number and the password on the display unit 473.

Next, a series of flows until the printed matter stored in the storage device 51 is taken out by the user will be described. When the operation accepting unit 101 accepts a print product removal request from the user based on an operation of the operation unit 47 by the user, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen on which a message "request to input a box number" is written, for example. This prompts the user to input a box number.

When the operation accepting unit 101 accepts the box number from the user based on the operation of the operation unit 47 by the user, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen on which a message "please input a password" is recorded, for example. This prompts the user to input a password. When it is determined that the password input by the user and received by the operation accepting unit 101 match the password stored in association with the box number (that is, when an unlocking condition is satisfied that the password received by the operation accepting unit 101 matches a predetermined number), the control unit 100 unlocks the storage device 51 corresponding to the box number. This enables the user to take out the printed matter from the storage device 51. The control unit 100 is also configured to unlock the storage device 51 by receiving the print fee as one of the unlock conditions.

The charging processing unit 102 sets a printing fee C1 according to the content of the print job, and executes charging processing for collecting the set printing fee C1 from the user. For example, the control unit 100 controls the image forming unit 12 to execute a print job in accordance with the content of the print job set by the user operation, and when the execution of the print job is completed, the charging processing unit 102 is also configured to transmit a signal requesting an increment of charging to the charging device 110 in accordance with the content (number of prints, etc.) of the print job.

Further, the control section 100 is also configured to perform the following control: the password received by the operation receiving unit 101 is matched with a predetermined number, and the charging processing unit 102 recognizes collection of the print fee and the extension fee from the user as a condition, unlocks the keys of the

storage devices

51A and 53A, and locks the keys of the

storage devices

51A and 53A until the condition is satisfied.

As will be described in detail later, since the extension fee C2 is generated when the first standby time T1 is extended by the user instruction, the charging processing unit 102 sets the extension fee C2 according to the length of the extension time TE of the first standby time T1 and performs charging processing for charging the set extension fee C2 from the user. Therefore, when the extension fee C2 is generated, the charging of the extension fee C2 also becomes one of the unlocking conditions.

Here, in order to avoid the approach of the vacancy of the storage device 51, it is preferable to set an upper limit (for example, 20 minutes) to the extension time TE. Further, the charging processing unit 102 is set such that the extension rate C2 corresponding to the length of the extension time TE does not exceed the printing rate C1 even if the extension time TE is set to the upper limit.

This is because if the extension fee C2 is higher than the printing fee C1, reprinting is cheaper, and the advantage of promptly removing the printed matter for the sake of the fee is lost.

For example, in the case where the printing fee C1 is 300 yen, the charging processing section 102 is also configured to set the extension fee C2 when the extension time TE is 20 minutes as the upper limit to not more than 300 yen. For example, when the extension time TE is set to the upper limit of 20 minutes, the charging processing unit 102 sets the extension fee C2 to be equivalent to 75% (230 yen) of the printing fee C1. Similarly, the extension rate C2 is set to 50% (150 yen) corresponding to the printing rate C1 when the extension rate TE is 15 minutes, to 25% (80 yen) corresponding to the printing rate C1 when the extension rate TE is 10 minutes, and to free when the extension rate TE is shorter than 5 minutes. Since 75% of the printing cost C1 "300 yen" is 225 yen, but the printing unit price is mostly 10 yen, the part that does not reach the printing unit price is increased, and 75% corresponding to the printing cost C1 "300 yen" is set as 230 yen.

Next, an example of processing operations performed by the control unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described based on the flowchart shown in fig. 2. The processing operation is performed at the time point when the print job ends. At this time, the charging processing unit 102 sets a printing fee C1 according to the content of the print job.

First, as an initial setting, the control unit 100 sets an extension flag F indicating a first standby time T1 before the extension of the cut-up printed matter to 0 (step S1), resets a timer T incorporated in the control unit 10 to 0, and starts the measurement of the elapsed time from the time the printed matter is stored in the storage device 51 using the timer T (step S2).

The control unit 100 is also configured to determine whether or not a predetermined second standby time T2 has elapsed since the printed product was stored in the storage device 51 (step S3). The second standby time T2 is a time shorter than the first standby time T1, for example, if the first standby time T1 is 20 minutes, the second standby time T2 is set to 15 minutes.

The control unit 100 is also configured to determine whether or not the storage device 51 is unlocked (step S4) when determining that the second standby time T2 has not elapsed (no in step S3), and to end the processing operation when determining that the storage device 51 is unlocked (yes in step S4), assuming that the user has taken out the printed matter stored in the storage device 51. At this time, the control unit 100 is also configured to unlock the door of the storage apparatus 51 by using the input of the password and the receipt of the printing fee C1 as one of the unlocking conditions.

On the other hand, if the control unit 100 determines that the storage device 51 is not unlocked (no in step S4), the process returns to step S3.

On the other hand, when determining that the second standby time T2 has elapsed (when yes in step S3), the control unit 100 is further configured to transmit predetermined warning information indicating that the printed matter is to be shredded to the portable device 71 corresponding to the IP address acquired in advance using the short-range communication unit 31 via the network interface unit 91, and to notify the portable device 71 of whether or not the user is requested to extend the first standby time T1 (step S5).

For example, a document with a "print" may be shredded immediately. Please take it away. The warning message of "such a message M1 (refer to fig. 3)" together with the option of the extension time TE of the first standby time T1, and "has a time that can be extended once to shredding by paying a fee" is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 to the portable device 71. Is it extended? "selection information of such a message M2 (see fig. 3).

The portable device 71 includes an application having a function of displaying on the display unit 72 messages M1 and M2 indicated by warning information or selection information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1, and displaying on the display unit 72 a selection item indicated by the selection information as a selection button, and also having a function of receiving a user instruction requesting extension of the first standby time T1 and transmitting the received user instruction to the image forming apparatus 1. Therefore, when the second standby time T2 has elapsed since the printed matter was stored in the storage device 51, as illustrated in fig. 3, the operation screen G1 including the messages M1 and M2 and the selection buttons B1 to B4 is displayed on the display unit 72 of the portable device 71. In each of the selection buttons B1 to B4, an extended time instructed to the image forming apparatus 1 is displayed. Images E1 to E3 indicating the extension fee corresponding to the extension time displayed are displayed in the vicinity of the selection buttons B1 to B4.

When any of the selection buttons B1 to B4 is operated by the user and the portable device 71 receives a user instruction that the portable device 71 designates the extension time TE of the first standby time T1, the portable device 71 transmits the received user instruction to the image forming apparatus 1. For example, when the user operates the selection button B2, the mobile device 71 transmits a user instruction "designate the extended time as 10 minutes" to the image forming apparatus 1. At this time, the user can confirm the extension fee for the specified extension time through the images E1 to E3.

Next, the control section 100 of the image forming apparatus 1 is also used to determine whether there is a user instruction requesting extension of the first standby time T1 (step S6). Specifically, the control unit 100 is also configured to determine whether or not a user instruction specifying the extended time TE transmitted from the portable device 71 has been received via the network interface unit 91.

If it is determined that the user instruction is present (yes in step S6), the control unit 100 adds the extension time TE indicated by the received user instruction to the first standby time T1, updates the first standby time T1 to a new first standby time T1 (step S8), and sets the extension flag F to 1 (step S9). The charging processing section 102 is also configured to set an extension fee C2 according to the length of the extension time TE and add the print fee C1 (step S10). After that, the process advances to step S11.

On the other hand, the control section 100 is also configured to, in a case where it is determined that there is no user instruction requesting extension of the first standby time T1 (in the case of no in step S6), skip the steps S7 to S10, and proceed to step S11.

The control unit 100 is also configured to determine whether or not the first standby time T1 has elapsed since the printed matter was stored in the storage device 51 (step S11), and if it is determined that the first standby time T1 has elapsed (yes in step S11), the control unit 100 is further configured to control the operation of the shredder 52 to shred the printed matter stored in the storage device 51 (step S12), and to end the processing operation.

On the other hand, the control unit 100 is also configured to determine whether or not the storage device 51 is unlocked (step S13) when determining that the first standby time T1 has not elapsed (when no in step S11), and to end the processing operation when determining that the storage device 51 is unlocked (when yes in step S13), assuming that the user has taken out the printed matter stored in the storage device 51. At this time, the control unit 100 is also configured to unlock the door of the storage apparatus 51 by one of the unlock conditions, which is the input of the password and the collection of the printing fee C1 and the extension fee C2.

The control unit 100 is also configured to determine whether the extension flag F is 1 (step S14) when determining that the storage apparatus 51 is not unlocked (no in step S13), return the process to step S11 when determining that the extension flag F is 1 (yes in step S14), and return the process to step S6 when determining that the extension flag F is not 1 (no in step S14).

According to the first embodiment, before the printed matter stored in the storage device 51 is cut, the warning information indicating the cut content of the printed matter is transmitted to the portable device 71 carried by the user. This makes it possible to notice that the time required for shredding is urgent, and thus, the user can be encouraged to avoid shredding. Therefore, it is possible to prevent leakage of information without losing user's convenience. In addition, waste of recording paper can also be prevented.

Further, since the first standby time T1 until the printed material is cut can be extended by the user's request, it is possible to avoid a situation that the printed material is cut into pieces, which is not preferable for the user, when the user returns to take the printed material out, and the first standby time T1 elapses.

In addition, although the above-described first embodiment has been described in the case where the user specifies the extension time TE of the first standby time T1, in another embodiment, the user may request only the extension of the first standby time T1, and upon receiving the request, the control unit 100 may be further configured to extend only the first standby time T1 by a predetermined length (for example, 10 minutes).

Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment differs from the image forming apparatus 1 shown in fig. 1 in the following points: the control unit 10 includes a personal specification unit 103 and a history information storage unit 104, and the control unit 100 has a function of changing the length of the second standby time T2.

The individual specifying section 103 specifies an individual of the user who has requested the print job. Specifically, the personal identification unit 103 identifies the user person from the personal information (ID code) acquired from the portable device 71 by the control unit 100 by NFC communication or the like from the portable device 71 near the near field communication unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 1.

The history information storage unit 104 is used to store history information related to the shredding history of the printed material for each user who has requested a print job. For example, as shown in fig. 5, the history information storage unit 104 stores information on the history of print jobs and the shredding history of printed products in association with the ID codes of the users. Therefore, by using the history information stored in the history information storage unit 104, the frequency of shredding of each printed product by the user can be calculated.

The control unit 100 is also configured to set the length of the second standby time T2 such that the second standby time T2 is shorter when the shredding frequency is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value than when the shredding frequency is lower than the threshold value, based on the shredding frequency of the printed matter indicated by the history information corresponding to the user person specified by the person specifying unit 103, which is stored in the history information storage unit 104.

For example, the controller 100 is further configured to set the second standby time T2 to 15 minutes when the shredding frequency is lower than the threshold value, and set the second standby time T2 to 10 minutes when the shredding frequency is higher than the threshold value. Thereby, the user who often forgets to take the printed product can be notified of the warning information as shown in fig. 3 as early as possible.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In the above-described embodiment, a multifunction peripheral was used as one embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, but this is merely an example, and another image forming apparatus having a copy function and a printer function may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration and the processing described in the above-described embodiment using fig. 1 to 5 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to the configuration and the processing.

Various modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. In addition, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described in the present specification.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus is characterized by comprising:

an image forming section for forming an image on a recording sheet;

a storage device for storing a printed product obtained by forming an image on the recording paper by the image forming unit;

a cutter for cutting the printed matter stored in the storage device;

a communication unit for performing wireless communication with a portable device carried by a user;

a control unit configured to control an operation of the shredding device to shred the printed material when it is determined that a predetermined first standby time has elapsed since the printed material was stored in the storage device;

when it is determined that a predetermined second standby time shorter than the first standby time has elapsed since the printed matter was stored in the storage device, the control unit is further configured to transmit predetermined warning information indicating the content of the cut-out printed matter to the portable device via the communication unit.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

the control section is further configured to perform, to the portable device via the communication section, a notification for inquiring of a user whether or not extension of the first standby time is requested, and to extend the first standby time when a user instruction requesting extension of the first standby time is received from the portable device via the communication section.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,

when a user instruction specifying an extension time of the first standby time is received from the portable device via the communication section, the control section is further configured to extend the first standby time in accordance with the extension time specified by the received user instruction.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,

the system further comprises a charging processing unit for performing charging processing for an amount of money corresponding to the length of the extended time.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4,

the charge processing section is also configured to execute charge processing for an amount of money corresponding to the content of the print job, and

a predetermined upper limit is set for the extended time,

further, even when the extended time is set to the upper limit, the charging processing unit is configured to perform charging processing by setting the extended fee corresponding to the length of the extended time to an amount not exceeding the printing fee corresponding to the content of the print job in which the printed product is obtained.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

an operation section for inputting a password by a user;

an operation accepting section for accepting a password input into the operation section;

the storage apparatus further includes a door that switches unlocking and locking of a key by control of the control unit, that is kept closed when locked, and that can be opened when unlocked, and that performs the following opening and closing operations: the print medium is closed to shield the print medium stored therein from the outside, and is opened to open the print medium stored therein to the outside.

The control section is further configured to perform the following control: the password received by the operation accepting unit is matched with a predetermined number, the charging processing unit recognizes collection of a print fee and an extension fee from a user as conditions, the key of the storage device is unlocked, and the key of the storage device is locked until the conditions are satisfied.

7. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:

a history information storage unit that stores history information indicating a history of shredding the printed material for each user who has requested a print job;

a person specifying section for specifying a person of the user who has requested the print job;

the control unit is further configured to set the length of the second standby time such that the second standby time is shorter when the shredding frequency is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value than when the shredding frequency is lower than the threshold value, based on the shredding frequency of the printed matter indicated by the history information corresponding to the user person specified by the person specifying unit and stored in the history information storage unit.